Post by Cipher 24 on Mar 29, 2015 15:14:49 GMT
It had been several days since Operation Downfall had been successful, and the Blue Banner Army had achieved control of the Western Capitol. Now had come the time to rebuild, courtesy of the BBA. It hadn't taken much for Cipher to convince the Administrator to supply the funds to rebuild the damage caused by the fighting. After all, they weren't conquerors or tyrants. Once they had secured their position as the Earth's military, they would pull their forces out and allow life in the city to return to normal.
But right now, it was time to make sure the refugees had homes to return to. BBA soldiers, pulled aside from their active duties, worked alongside construction crews to help speed up the process, and were doing a decent job despite not really being trained for construction. Cipher had offered to assist, but had been declined. The soldiers didn't really feel it was right for a KAOS operative, one of the highest ranking members of the army, to take part in simple grunt work. Cipher didn't really understand the logic. Being as strong as he was and capable of flight, it would make sense for him to help. He could move large amounts of materials and reach heights safely. Still, they were insistent and Cipher would listen to their requests.
So now, while his men built, Cipher was painting.
The android had managed to acquire some paints and was now painting the side of a newly repaired building. Cipher had learned the small shop had been a florist and had decided on a whim to paint a mural for when the owner returned. Before Cipher 24 was, well, Cipher 24, he had been an artist known as Anthony Harken. Even though Cipher had long admitted that he was not the long dead artist, his artistic talents had somehow passed onto him.
Cipher took a step back, looking over his work. He had started with a prominent green background, and was now painting an assortment of flowers to complete the piece. Seemed suitable for a florist, yes?
"Oh my, what a lovely painting."
Cipher blinked and looked behind him. Being so caught up in his work, he hadn't noticed that a little old lady had come up to observe him. One of the civilians who either hadn't fled the city in the crisis, or had returned shortly after the hostilities ceased. Some others had passed by and were looking as well. Cipher could tell that they were conflicted between their appreciation of the piece, and their distaste for the artist. Cipher really couldn't blame them. After all, he was among those who took over their home town. And that wasn't including Cipher himself, but he didn't dwell on that. The old lady who had spoken up seemed to only care about the artwork, giving the pale android a warm smile.
"Thank you Miss," he replied, glancing back at the mural, "I certainly hope the owner finds it just as good."
The old lady gave a small chuckle. "Well, you're looking right at her. This is my shop you see. It's nice to see the place being touched up like this. I could never afford to patch up the shop." Cipher blinked. So, in a way, the damage caused to the shop was a good thing. Now it was being built back better than when it was before.
The old lady began to rummage through her purse. "How much do I owe you young man?" Cipher quickly raised his hands. "Oh, no charge. It's the least I can do." The old woman smiled, setting the purse at his side. "Well, I can't let this work go unrewarded," she pondered for a moment, before a bright smile appeared on her wrinkled face. "I've got it! I'll be sure to give you a discount at my shop. Any time you want something for a sweetheart, come on down and I'll fix you up something right."
Cipher's eyes bulged. Him? With a woman? The expression on his face must have been goofy, because the old woman chuckled, "If you want some advise though, I'd suggest getting a tan. You're much to pale." She looked up at the mural, smiling. "Again, thank you very much for the lovely painting." With one last smile, she turned and walked into the building, wanting to inspect the inside. Cipher didn't wait for a second before taking off into the sky. Cipher had never felt so embarrassed in his life.
Still, she had liked his work, and had done it for free too. He couldn't help but feel warm inside for the good deed done.
But right now, it was time to make sure the refugees had homes to return to. BBA soldiers, pulled aside from their active duties, worked alongside construction crews to help speed up the process, and were doing a decent job despite not really being trained for construction. Cipher had offered to assist, but had been declined. The soldiers didn't really feel it was right for a KAOS operative, one of the highest ranking members of the army, to take part in simple grunt work. Cipher didn't really understand the logic. Being as strong as he was and capable of flight, it would make sense for him to help. He could move large amounts of materials and reach heights safely. Still, they were insistent and Cipher would listen to their requests.
So now, while his men built, Cipher was painting.
The android had managed to acquire some paints and was now painting the side of a newly repaired building. Cipher had learned the small shop had been a florist and had decided on a whim to paint a mural for when the owner returned. Before Cipher 24 was, well, Cipher 24, he had been an artist known as Anthony Harken. Even though Cipher had long admitted that he was not the long dead artist, his artistic talents had somehow passed onto him.
Cipher took a step back, looking over his work. He had started with a prominent green background, and was now painting an assortment of flowers to complete the piece. Seemed suitable for a florist, yes?
"Oh my, what a lovely painting."
Cipher blinked and looked behind him. Being so caught up in his work, he hadn't noticed that a little old lady had come up to observe him. One of the civilians who either hadn't fled the city in the crisis, or had returned shortly after the hostilities ceased. Some others had passed by and were looking as well. Cipher could tell that they were conflicted between their appreciation of the piece, and their distaste for the artist. Cipher really couldn't blame them. After all, he was among those who took over their home town. And that wasn't including Cipher himself, but he didn't dwell on that. The old lady who had spoken up seemed to only care about the artwork, giving the pale android a warm smile.
"Thank you Miss," he replied, glancing back at the mural, "I certainly hope the owner finds it just as good."
The old lady gave a small chuckle. "Well, you're looking right at her. This is my shop you see. It's nice to see the place being touched up like this. I could never afford to patch up the shop." Cipher blinked. So, in a way, the damage caused to the shop was a good thing. Now it was being built back better than when it was before.
The old lady began to rummage through her purse. "How much do I owe you young man?" Cipher quickly raised his hands. "Oh, no charge. It's the least I can do." The old woman smiled, setting the purse at his side. "Well, I can't let this work go unrewarded," she pondered for a moment, before a bright smile appeared on her wrinkled face. "I've got it! I'll be sure to give you a discount at my shop. Any time you want something for a sweetheart, come on down and I'll fix you up something right."
Cipher's eyes bulged. Him? With a woman? The expression on his face must have been goofy, because the old woman chuckled, "If you want some advise though, I'd suggest getting a tan. You're much to pale." She looked up at the mural, smiling. "Again, thank you very much for the lovely painting." With one last smile, she turned and walked into the building, wanting to inspect the inside. Cipher didn't wait for a second before taking off into the sky. Cipher had never felt so embarrassed in his life.
Still, she had liked his work, and had done it for free too. He couldn't help but feel warm inside for the good deed done.
